A living breed

Annual horse parade a racts students, sta and community locals

Jasmin Miko Roundup Reporter

Several organizations revolving around the equine communities hitched their trailers and saddled up their breeds of horses to showcase to an audience during the Pierce College Parade of Breeds on Saturday, Oct. 12.

With an audience settled under the shade of the campus Equestrian Center, families, equine students and other spectators watched more than 50 horses gallop and trot their way around the center. Organizations such as Taking the Reigns and Hearts & Hands Animal Rescue (HHAR) provided their horses, ponies and steeds.

“Parade of Breeds is a place for students and for the public to come and see the different breeds that are really rare to see in one area,” said 22-year-old equine science student Scarlet Walker. “Even if you were a horse person, you’d never see these breeds.”

According to Walker, the Equine Science program encourages its students to develop the production. With a supportive horse community, the organizers have been planning the parade since October of 2012 to manage and collect an extensive array of horses to saddle and showcase in this year’s equine event.

“We came all the way from San Diego and brought the horses we’ve rescued,” said HHAR intern Shenya Aguilar. “Hearts and Hands is a nonprofit organization where we’ve rescued horses, zebras, camels and donkeys.”

According to clinic participant Melisa Lang, HHAR provided the parade with a zebra, a zonkey, a zorse, and a baby donkey born that Saturday morning. With the organization predominately equine, Lang explained that anything done with a horse can be treated with a zebra, mule or donkey.

Another organization, Taking the Reigns, provided the parade an Arabian horse and a halfArabian. According to mentor Mary Varrientos, 16, Taking the Reigns is another nonprofit organization that is based in the middle of Los Angeles. It is an all girl’s program where they teach their students how to garden, take care of chickens, and ride and tend to horses.

“Parade of Breeds is the best way to show off the horses you have,” said Varrientos. “They asked us to bring our horses so we did. This was my first time showcasing our Arabians.”

While the Parade of Breeds was a spectacle for the horse community, it was also an event where students found support in their major. Jesse Orozco, 31, majors in agricultural business and has attended the Parade of Breeds for three years.

“I used to take horse classes as a part of my major,” said Orozco. “With the program and the Boots and Saddles club, it’s nice to see all the support from people who don’t even come to this school to watch the show. Then we have people from all over the state or even country to bring their horses.”

The Boots and Saddles club is the campus equestrian club that was found on-site raising money for both the club and the program.

Students enrolled in the campus course Equine 601 were found sitting throughout the bleachers trying to guess the breeds and colors of the showcased horses, according to volunteer Randy Ackermann who passed out the ballots to guess the 50-plus breed varieties.

The Parade of Breeds was a family-filled event filled with awe as children and their parents watched the riders saddle their breeds, perform jumping tricks and gallop around the center.

Jacqueline “Jackie” Hilario

Age: 19

Year:

Sophomore High school: El Camino

Real Charter

Major: Liberal studies

Sport: Soccer